4.5stars! This book was super good I loved Matilda and Vincent and Bade. Made me kinda wanna do reread of divine rivals and ruthless vows.

Wild Reverence is nothing short of extraordinary. From the very first chapters, I knew this would become my favorite read of the year, a prediction that proved absolutely correct.

Returning to the world of Divine Rivals felt like coming home, filled with all the nostalgia and familiarity I craved. The introduction of new characters alongside the intricate layering of divine and mortal storylines showcases truly brilliant storytelling craft.

What struck me most was how consistently engaging the narrative remained. Not once did I find myself bored or waiting for the story to pick up pace. Ross has mastered the art of weaving complex plot structures that never feel overwhelming, maintaining momentum while allowing space for profound character development.

Speaking of character development… it was absolutely incredible. Each character felt fully realized, with growth arcs that were both surprising and inevitable.

If I could give this book infinite stars, I would. Wild Reverence is a masterclass in fantasy storytelling that will undoubtedly stand as one of the year’s best releases.

Highly recommended for fans of: Divine Rivals, mythological fantasy, character-driven narratives, and anyone seeking their next favorite read.

Matilda might be one of my favorite written female characters ever. Her duality and open heart was so genuine and captivating, that I was hooked from the start. A goddess falling in love with a mortal in such a pure way, and that being reciprocated from Vincent was breathtaking. There was enough story and romance to create a beautiful story. I will literally buy anything Rebecca Ross writes forevermore.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books for the opportunity to read Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross in exchange for my honest review.

The world-building in Wild Reverence is nothing short of stunning—but that was to be expected, since it’s set in the same world as Divine Rivals. This story takes us back to a time before Iris sat at her typewriter and before Enva sang her song. It feels like stepping into a familiar place, yet through an entirely different lens.

This book gave me so many feelings. It’s adventurous, mysterious, hopeful, tense, dark, sad, and painful.

Matilda was such a clever and charming heroine, and I really liked her. She’s layered and complex, carrying secrets and burdens that slowly unfold in a way that makes her arc deeply satisfying. I struggled a bit in the first quarter of the book, if I’m honest—both with Matilda’s complexity and the slower build of the plot—but once it clicked, I was all in.

This isn’t just a story about falling in love. It’s about the many forms of love—romantic, destined, chosen, familial—and the way those bonds shape who we become. Matilda and Vincent’s relationship is sweet, but for me, this book wasn’t just about how they came to love each other. It was more about their journeys growing up, how they endured pain and change, and how love in all its forms kept them strong.

One relationship I can’t not mention is Matilda and Bade. From the very start, their connection is palpable. You crave it. You root for it. The emotional payoff for these two was one of my favorite parts of the book—absolutely beautiful and worth every page of buildup No spoilers, but you root for them, as well as Bade and Adria.

As for Vincent, I liked him—but I didn’t love him as much as I wanted to. I wanted to feel everything Matilda felt for him, but at times, I just didn’t. I actually found myself connecting more with his brother, Nathaniel! Still, the romance was a slow burn done well, and by the end, the emotional payoff made the journey completely worth it.

Wild Reverence is a story about holding on and letting go, about the ache of loss and the beauty of finding someone who makes that ache bearable. I adored Divine Rivals, but somehow, I may have fallen even harder for this book.

Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross | ARC Review

Thank you Netgalley and Rebecca Ross for this ARC! Once I read the premise of this book, and learning is in the same universe as Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows I knew I HAD to read it!

5⭐️//1🌶️

Matilda is a new goddess, born from a Underling mother, and a Skyward father (that does not know of her existence). Upon her birth, she becomes the herald of gods, being able to move through worlds without trouble. She grows up in the cold and dark world of the Underling clan, under the guidance of her mother, and the protection of the God of War. With an unassuming presence (being born only as a goddess of the middle court), growing up, Matilda learns of schemes and the importance of power from the other gods around her. She is gifted scrolls of parchment that hold recordings of dreams from the goddess of dreams herself. In these parchments she learns about a mortal boy, Vincent, with whom she feels a kinship like no other. As the years pass, and the betrayals ebb and flow, Matilda finds herself drawn over and over again to Vincent, their fates seemingly intertwined without ever fully being able to escape one another.

This book was so beautifully written, I am simply short for words. It reminded me of bed-time stories being told in the dark of the night, when everything is still, because this book truly felt like an embrace. The entire book, I was rooting for Matilda and Vincent to finally find each other, and that the other obstacles in their ways would simply cease. How dare Rebecca put us through so much yearning and suffering??? Vincent was a man gone, he was literally ready to put his life at Matilda's feet, for her to do whatever she wanted with it. I loved seeing Matilda, a goddess that was so afraid of letting her guard down and trusting someone fully, put all her faith in a mere mortal man. Their love transcended realms, and their devotion to one another is unlike anything the gods have seen.

After reading Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, I was curious about all the gods, and the mythology surrounding them, from the mere snippets we have seen in those books. Wild Reverence delivered all the lore on the gods and goddesses of Skyward and Underling, and I was absolutely there for it! Towards the ending of the book, I wish I would have seen even more of Matilda and Vincent. They have captured my heart. I would love to see more written in this series - I hope Rebecca plans for additional stories in this world because the characters she brought into existence are fascinating and I adore them.

This book is just absolutely gorgeous. From start to end, it’s magical, whimsical, and it weaves suspense perfectly through the romance. I adored riding this adventure with Vincent and Matilda and cannot wait to see what Rebecca Ross has in store for us next, with her ability to create such beautiful stories.

I was unfortunately disappointed in this one. The premise sounded so great, and I loved Divine Rivals! I felt that the plot was all over the place, and the characters were hard to connect with. I did enjoy the ending, and the tie in to the Divine Rivals duology, but really felt like I was slugging through to get there.

I loved this book! I previously read the other 2 in the series and I loved learning about the gods and before the war. It was a beautifully sad love story. Will recommend to my friends!

Rebecca Ross has blown me away once again. i had high expectations for Wild Reverence and every single one of them was exceeded.

the writing was lush and atmospheric and lyrical and i absolutely loved being back in the world of Divine Rivals and getting to know the history of the gods! and the forbidden/starcrossed love between Matilda and Vincent was everything to me. if you're looking for a yearner, Vincent is your man!

i still can't even talk about the epilogue😭 the way i GASPED. it was so good.

this was truly one of those books that i just don't want to move on from. and it made me appreciate the little things a little bit more. the night i finished, i went to stand outside and, staring up at a full moon, thought about how truly precious and short life is and let myself soak in the moment.

if you loved Divine Rivals, i think you'll love this book too!! 5 stars all the way around!

Whew, what a ride.

I ended up liking this more than Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, which I expected because this focused a lot more on the lore of the gods. It was really cool to learn more about the dynamics between them all and to explore the dark Underling realm and the glittering Skyward realm.

This book, like DR & RV, follows a love story that unfolds in a time of unrest. This time, there's extra angst due to Matilda being a goddess and Vincent being a mere mortal.

There were some things that worked really well for me:
- the parts where we followed the ~drama~ of the divine realms were so interesting
- Matilda discovering her true power and learning to trust her heart
- Vincent. Just. As a guy. I really liked him!
- The dynamic between Bade and Matilda was lovely and really satisfying
- exploration of love in its many forms AND the contrast between true love and possession.
- the writing style (for the most part). Rebecca Ross is great at writing romantic and atmospheric scenes. She really builds a scene well. Although there was maybe one too many scenes where Matilda's sheer dress was clinging to her frame....

Things that did not work for me (BIG SPOILERS):
- we didn't get to see Matilda visit Bade after she came back from the wasteland
- the ending. I knew it wasn't going to work for me because I don't enjoy the mortal/immortal tension. Even if she went to live with him in the mists, it didn't feel like a satisfactory ending, especially since she functionally gives up her power to be with him at the end. (A trope I usually dislike) The epilogue was nice though!
- the whole romance with Warin. I understand it served as a foil to the love she had with Vincent, but plot-wise, he could have been opposed to her simply because he was power hungry etc.
- the romance between Nathaniel and his murderer. Like...good for them but what the fuck? Genuinely, why? He did not need a second chance and definitely not that much of a second chance 💀
- Similarly, WHY did Matilda give Grimald 3 days to leave? Just kick him out! Would he have come back? Maybe. But not if he was actually frightened by her? IDK it felt like a stupid choice.
- honestly the number of times Matilda was called away or summoned or otherwise separated from Vincent. I know we had to suffer before they could be together but it was like one time too many for me.


Overall, I'm glad I read it and I did enjoy most of it.

Fans of the Letters of Enchantment series will enjoy this installment as it offers the longing, tender romance, and magical elements that were found in DR & RV.

If you're like me and DR & RV didn't hit quite right but you liked the writing, atmosphere, and themes - give this one a shot! There's a solid chance you'll like this one better.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Saturday Books, and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this book!

4.75 stars rounded up to 5. I can’t even put into words how beautiful and pining this love story is. When described that this story would take place in the world of Divine Rivals, they are more so referencing the world of the gods, and it was really cool to read some of their origin stories. You in no way need to read Divine Rivals to enjoy this story, although the epilogue will have you screaming if you did. This a beautifully written book. Thank you Net Galley and Rebecca Ross for the ARC!

This book was just BEAUTIFUL yall! I cannot get over the way that Rebecca writes. I felt like I was legit immersed in a whole other world. The setting. The magic. The characters and the conflict were all so original and so mesmerizing. I was invested in Matilda's story and fully captivated by this journey that we followed her on. I LOVED her and Vincent- how their lives were woven together from a young age. How they kept finding each other. How slow burning but BRILLIANT their love for each other was. How much their love defied the gods and the sacrificies they each put in for it. My heart was on the line reading this one. I was angry for the things that kept intervening to keep them for each other but then so in awe of how they made each other feel. Let's talk about how much I also enjoyed the backdrop to the Letters of Enchantment setting. We got to meet the Gods before the war happened. We got to see the drama building on the backend and witness their vengeance and blood thirsty behavior. We also got to learn more about the Underlings and the Skylings. This was just a wonderful backstory book with an endearing love story that was MOVING.

Matilda was born below with the Underlings. She was raised among the Gods as one of them, but her power did not become known until later. She became known as the Herald to the Gods AKA the Messenger. She knew there were struggles with the Skylings but didn't know enough about them until everything imploded on her. Secrets emerged. Betrayals happened and when the moment came Matilda wanted to the one place she had felt safe. In a boy named Vincent's dream where she felt so much connection. But that couldn't be. Not then. So she went to live with her father who she had never met because he was a Skyling. Now she learns all about her other history. She has lovers. She lives. She indulges but one day she finds herself drawn again to her home below where she finds letters upon letters from Vincent. So she goes to him and realizes he is in a war for his homeland. She finds herself drawn to him unlike she has with anyone before. She finds herself crossing lines for him. Giving up secrets for him. Willing to give up EVERYTHING for him which is when she realizes she does in fact love him. This man who has held her heart for so long even though she has tried to shield it. But fate has plans for them that neither of them are prepared for. Matilda knows that absence can make the heart grow fonder but also understands that Vincent may not wait for her. She hopes he knows how much he means to her. She hopes he knows she thinks about him daily. She hopes she will get to be with him again.

This was SUCH a wonderful love story with so many things woven in. Found family. Betrayal. Secrets. Magic. Gods. The Etherals. We got a hint of the famous typewriters and how they came to be. It was long but I didn't find myself feeling like it stretched out. The length was perfect for the story. I haven't even finished Letters of Enchantment yet (only read book 1) but didn't feel lost at all. I just LOVED this and can't wait to read book 2 of Letters as well as see what else Rebecca has up her sleeve for us!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Rebecca Ross is THE big name in the Romantasy genre right now. Incredibly lovely atmosphere and lyrical prose and touching relationships. Simply amazing

ARC Review: The book overall was very interesting and i enjoyed reading about the two main characters. The overall story flowed well. The middle of the story did get a little slow in my opinion and I think the book could’ve been shortened overall. The book had a lot of plot moments that caught my interest and I would definitely recommend to anyone interested in Gods and fantasy

Again, Rebecca Ross is a master with world building. I wish to forever live in the world she's made with Divine Rivals, Ruthless Vows, and now Wild Reverence. This was such an amazing precursor to the others, and I LOVED the characters, the world building and story line. Have no negatives at all except I don't have more to read!

At this point, Rebecca Ross is an auto-buy author for me. I don't have a single critique and enjoyed every minute of this story. The relationship between Matilda and Vincent was intimate, beautiful, and wholly believable - an important aspect for any written romance for me.

Spice: Low
Romance: High
Friends to lovers
One love interest
Dark hair MMC
RATING: 5 out of 5

The yearning in this book was top tier, exactly what you expect when you pick up a Rebecca Ross book and it only exceeded every single expectation. Vincent and Matilda have the sweetest emotions for each other that you feel how raw and real it is from their first interaction together. The romance between them was by far the best part of this book.
The story took a while to build up and really grab my interest but once we got about 30-35% in it was nonstop action. I wanted to throw up every other chapter.

The biggest thank you to Rebecca Ross for this ARC!!!

Wild Reverence is a prequel taking place in the same universe as the Letters of Enchantment duology. Readers who enjoyed that series will love this new addition to the world. It’s not necessary to have read the duology prior to reading this, though I do believe it will enhance your reading. The story is about an immortal goddess Matilda, herald of the gods, and Vincent, a mortal Lord, and the way their lives continue to intersect over the years.

Rebecca Ross’ writing is so beautiful, and atmospheric. This book explores more of the mythology of the gods described in her duology. The beginning reads like folklore. I found this book takes the best of both Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows. The setting and atmosphere feels more similar to RV, but the romance and yearning feels comparable to DR.

It’s romantic fantasy at its best, with a well fleshed out world and a love story that draws you in.

I found the first 30% of the book to be pretty slow-paced, but it picks up after that and keeps you hooked. I do think this book could have been a little shorter though, and doesn’t quite earn all its pages.

Overall, I really enjoyed this new addition to the Letters of Enchantment world and believe readers of romantasy will really enjoy this book.

I wanted to fall in love with this book so badly. Very sadly, I struggled with this book. I liked the premise and the characters but the writing for me was very slow in places. I appreciate a descriptive tone however at times, the writing was overly flowery and too full of metaphors. It was a slog through the middle portion especially. I enjoyed the relationship between Matilda and Vincent, alongside many of the other characters. The most redeeming part of the entire book for me was the final 20% and the epilogue was my favourite as it tied into Divine Rivals. I think this book will be a success for many readers who appreciate a lyrical prose and a slower developing plot.

I absolutely ate up this author's previous duology, Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, so I was looking forward to this book set in that universe a lot, and I was not disappointed! You definitely do not have to read that duology to understand this book - this is technically a prequel - but it's really good so I recommend it. This book is about Matilda, a goddess born with insignificant powers and no idea who her father is. She grows up in the ruthless Under Realm, where her mother teaches her that gods are constantly trying to kill each other to absorb each other's powers. One of Matilda's only warm relationships is her connection to a mortal boy Vincent (hard to explain without giving anything away). At the tender age of 13, tragic events rip Matilda from her mother, her home, and Vincent. But just over a decade later, she and Vincent are brought together by a strange combination of circumstances, and a series of unbelievable events are set in motion.

The beginning of this book is a little slow, mostly because this is the first book set in this universe that spends a significant amount of time in the realms of the gods, so there's a lot of building out of the mythology and characters. It's incredibly well-written and you can tell it's ramping up and speeding up throughout, so it kept me engaged. Once Matilda leaves the Under Realm, things really start moving, and the conflicts and relationship dynamics are delicious. I loved the way this book wove in the gods' existence into medieval times; it was fun and interesting to see Matilda and her fellow divines get involved in wars in castles and fights over inheritances and territories. This was also a much more romantic book than I was expecting, in every way. The depiction of the connection between Matilda and Vincent is so incredibly tender and lovely, and I also really enjoyed the way Matilda expressed how frowned upon it was for a god to experience any level of emotion, but how she couldn't resist it anyway. I also loved the found family aspects of this book. This was just so enjoyable!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!